Flexible functionality partitioning within intelligent-thermostat-controlled HVAC systems
First Claim
1. An intelligent thermostat comprising:
- a visible portion;
a concealed portion onto which the visible portion mounts by sliding the visible portion onto the concealed portion; and
subcomponents, wherein each of the subcomponents is associated with one or more intelligent-thermostat functionalities, the subcomponents comprising;
a long-distance wireless communications module that interconnects the intelligent thermostat with remote computing facilities;
a local wireless communications module that interconnects the intelligent thermostat with environmental-condition-system components;
a plurality of infrared sensors comprising;
a first infrared sensor configured to detect an occupant approaching the intelligent thermostat; and
a second infrared sensor configured to detect a presence of the occupant regardless of whether the occupant is approaching the intelligent thermostat;
a microprocessor that controls an interactive user interface and additional monitoring, analysis, and communications functions, and further controls a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system based at least in part an occupancy state of the home determined by the second infrared sensor;
a microcontroller that controls low-power-consuming functions and wake-on circuitry;
one or more environmental sensors that monitor an environment;
a mechanical user interface;
an optico-electrical user interface;
a display driver;
an electronic memory;
a battery;
power-management circuitry;
power-supply circuitry; and
wake-on circuitry that powers up the interactive user interface when the occupant approaching the intelligent thermostat is detected by the first infrared sensor.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The current application is directed to an intelligent-thermostat-controlled environmental-conditioning system in which computational tasks and subcomponents with associated intelligent-thermostat functionalities are distributed to one or more of concealed and visible portions of one or more intelligent thermostats and, in certain implementations, to one or more intermediate boxes. The intelligent thermostats are interconnected to intermediate boxes by wired and/or wireless interfaces and intelligent thermostats intercommunicate with one another by wireless communications. Wireless communications include communications through a local router and an ISP, 3G and 4G wireless communications through a mobile service provider. Components of the intelligent-thermostat-controlled thermostat-controlled environmental-conditioning system may also be connected by wireless communications to remote computing facilities.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An intelligent thermostat comprising:
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a visible portion; a concealed portion onto which the visible portion mounts by sliding the visible portion onto the concealed portion; and subcomponents, wherein each of the subcomponents is associated with one or more intelligent-thermostat functionalities, the subcomponents comprising; a long-distance wireless communications module that interconnects the intelligent thermostat with remote computing facilities; a local wireless communications module that interconnects the intelligent thermostat with environmental-condition-system components; a plurality of infrared sensors comprising; a first infrared sensor configured to detect an occupant approaching the intelligent thermostat; and a second infrared sensor configured to detect a presence of the occupant regardless of whether the occupant is approaching the intelligent thermostat; a microprocessor that controls an interactive user interface and additional monitoring, analysis, and communications functions, and further controls a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system based at least in part an occupancy state of the home determined by the second infrared sensor; a microcontroller that controls low-power-consuming functions and wake-on circuitry; one or more environmental sensors that monitor an environment; a mechanical user interface; an optico-electrical user interface; a display driver; an electronic memory; a battery; power-management circuitry; power-supply circuitry; and wake-on circuitry that powers up the interactive user interface when the occupant approaching the intelligent thermostat is detected by the first infrared sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An intelligent-thermostat-controlled heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:
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one or more HVAC units; and one or more intelligent thermostats that control the one or more HVAC units, each intelligent thermostat comprising; a visible portion; a concealed portion onto which the visible portion mounts by sliding the visible portion onto the concealed portion; and subcomponents, wherein each of the subcomponents is associated with one or more intelligent-thermostat functionalities, the subcomponents comprising; a long-distance wireless communications module that interconnects the intelligent thermostat with remote computing facilities; a local wireless communications module that interconnects the intelligent thermostat with environmental-condition-system components; a plurality of infrared sensors comprising; a first infrared sensor configured to detect an occupant approaching the intelligent thermostat; and a second infrared sensor configured to detect a presence of the occupant regardless of whether the occupant is approaching the intelligent thermostat; a microprocessor that controls an interactive user interface and additional monitoring, analysis, and communications functions, and further controls a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system based at least in part an occupancy state of the home determined by the second infrared sensor; a microcontroller that controls low-power-consuming functions and wake-on circuitry; one or more environmental sensors that monitor an environment; a mechanical user interface; an optico-electrical user interface; a display driver; an electronic memory; a battery; power-management circuitry; power-supply circuitry; and wake-on circuitry that powers up the interactive user interface when the occupant approaching the intelligent thermostat is detected by the first infrared sensor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification